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B.C. Education minister, Chilliwack-Kent MLA-elect call for Neufeld to step down

Kelli Paddon, Rob Fleming condemn Neufeld’s latest derogatory rant comments
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B.C. Education Minister and MLA-Elect Kelli Paddon join a chorus of voices calling for the resignation of Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld. (File photo)

Chilliwack School Board trustee Barry Neufeld’s most recent inflammatory comments targeting Black Press journalists have now drawn condemnation from Chilliwack-Kent MLA-elect Kelli Paddon and B.C.’s education minister Rob Fleming.

Neufeld’s now-deleted Facebook comment attacked three named staff at the Chilliwack Progress, containing an offensive ableist slur and factual inaccuracies. Neufeld later changed the post, referring to “three radical lefties,” before deleting the post altogether.

“These insulting and harmful remarks have no place in our politics,” said Paddon in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

“All parties should denounce Barry Neufeld’s extreme and offensive beliefs. I hope the BC Liberals will be clear with British Columbians about whether they accepted his membership application. They should show that Barry Neufeld and his beliefs have no place in their party.”

RELATED: Chilliwack school board censures trustee Barry Neufeld after controversial Facebook post

Fleming echoed Paddon’s sentiments, slamming Neufeld and the B.C. Liberals.

“In addition to targeting the LGBTQ community and peddling conspiracy theories about [Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam] and COVID-19, he is now targeting ableist slurs at individuals,” Fleming said in a series of tweets posted Friday afternoon.

“It’s time for him to step down.”

Fleming applauded SD33’s decision to remove Neufeld from all committees and blocking him from interacting with any of the schools, adding he is exploring options that the provincial government has available to address the latest debacle.

RELATED: Widespread criticism for B.C. school trustee’s COVID-19 conspiracy theory rant

“Under the School Act, Cabinet has the power to remove an entire board but not an individual trustee,” Fleming said. “I’m also calling on the B.C. Liberals to denounce Barry Neufeld and his harmful comments to people with disabilities.”

A Change.org petition has been making its rounds online, calling for Neufeld’s resignation or removal. Nearly 24 hours after the petition’s creation, it had gathered more than 1,600 signatures.


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